British bobsledder Bruce Tasker admits the competition for places in the run up to Sochi remains fierce - despite last season's impressive results.

At February’s World Championships Tasker rode alongside John Jackson, Stuart Benson and Joel Fearon as Great Britain finished just 0.07seconds off bronze in fifth place.

The settled four man team also finished fifth at an Olympic test event on the Sochi track and have realistic ambitions of taking home a medal from Russia next year.
However, brakeman Tasker, 29, insists no place is guaranteed at this week's selection trials in Latvia.
“It’s still up in the air,” he said.

“We’ve got a couple of guys who have been spotted at Talent ID who are training up, it’s about whether they can get technically good in time.
“The four that are currently GB 1, we’ve been together for a couple of years and have experience as a crew together and we compliment each other perfectly.

“It’s not just about being fast, you’ve got to be strong, fast and the right weight.
“You’ve got to compliment each weight because we’ve got a maximum total and also you’ve got to choreograph getting into a sled.
“Four of you piling into this small sled and we’re not small so it’s a quite challenge and it’s quite a skill to learn.”
Britain's top driver Jackson is currently recovering from surgery on his Achilles tendon, though the Royal Marine Commando is confident of being fit for the first World Cup in Calgary late next month.
And Tasker, who took up the sport after the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, was full of praise for the work his team-mate Jackson does.

“It’s a big understanding, he’s responsible for us once we’re all sat in and he’s driving,” he said.

“We all trust him to do that and don’t pressure him in any way, the aim is to get down to the bottom safely and quickly.

“It helps to have a really close team both on and off the track. We train together a lot and we just have a good rapport.

"We go through highs and lows together and all of this just builds your trust and confidence in al the guys, especially Jacko, that they’re going to do their job well.”